Suction nozzle



July 6, 1937. L, ELL 2,086,124

SUCTION NOZZLE Filed Sept. 5,' 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l L. ELL

SUCTION NOZZLE July 1937.

2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1954 Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Lars Ell, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 5, 1934, Serial No. 742,747

Germany September 23, 1933 My invention relates to the vacuum cleaner art and more particularly to an improved suction nozzle for use in connection with a vacuum cleaner. More specifically my invention v contemplates a nozzle in which is located a brush member having bristles which extend out through the suction opening of the nozzle and contact the surface being cleaned.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide mounting means for such a brush which permits the brush to have movement in all directions with respect to the nozzle. Thus, the -brush is able to move, not only in a vertical direction if the nozzle is passed over an uneven surface, but may move back and forth within the suction open ing so as to always be in contact with the trailing edge of the opening as the nozzle is passed back and forth over the surface. With the brush maintained out of the center of the suction opening, the main current of air does not pass therethrough, and I have found that this reduces the amount of dirt that collects in the brush.

Another object of my invention is to provide a nozzle of the above type which is provided` with rollers for supporting it on the surface to be cleaned, which rollers as well as the brush may bc readily removed without the use of tools or the removal of any separate retaining members.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of my invention in connection witha conventional type of vacuum cleaner; p

Fig. 2 is a front view, partially in cross-section, of the suction nozzle shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the nozzle;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end view of archer-supporting bracket;

Fig. 7 is a top view of a clamp employed for retaining the roller-supporting bracket;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the brush in one extreme position; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the brush in the other extreme position.

Referring to the drawings, reference character I0 designates a conventional type of vacuum cleaner, which includes a dust bag and a motori'an unit. Connected to the casing of cleaner I is a suction conduit I I, the other end of which may be vconnected to a rigid handle member I2 which in turn is connected to a suction nozzle I3. Nozzle I3 comprises walls forming an elongated suction opening I5. The walls are formed vwith an opening for receiving a conduit member I6 which is adapted to be connected to the handle I2. Secured withinthe nozzle adjacent to either end of the elongated opening I5 is a clamping mem-f ber I1. Member I'l is shown more in detail in Fig. 'I and includes inturned ends I8. The central portion of member Il is secured to the nozzle by means of a pair of rivets I9 having inner enlarged heads 20.

Reference character 2l designates a brush including a rigid back 22 which supports a plurality of Agroups of bristles 23. Secured to either end of member 22 is a leaf spring 24 which is bent to U-shape at 25. The remaining portion of the spring is bent to conform with the inner contour of the nozzle and near its end is formed with two openings having a diameter slightly greater than that o f the heads of rivets 'I9. These openings are adapted to engage the heads of the rivets to hold the spring in place. y

A roller 26 of rubber or other suitable material is rotatably mounted upon a shaft'2'I. One end of the shaft is rigidly secured to a bracket 28. Bracket 28 is bent so as to conform with the inner contour of the nozzle. The width of the upper portion 29 of the bracket is less than the space between the inturned ends 28 of clamp I1. The width of the lower part 30 of the bracket, on the other hand, is such that clamp I1 embraces this portion of the bracket and retains it in place by friction. The lower end 3| of the bracket is bent at right angles so as to engage the lower edge of the clamp in order to limit upward movement of the bracket with respect to the clamp. When in position the rollers support the mouthpiece on a surface with the suction opening I5 spaced a slight distance from the surface.

When the bracket 28 is secured in place within the clamp I1 after spring 24 has been snapped onto rivets I9, the bracket serves to lock the spring in place and prevents accidental release of the spring. In order to remove both the rollers and the brush 2l, it is only necessary to pull downwardly on the rollers with sufficient force to overcome the frictional engagement of clamp I1 with bracket 20 and, after the rollers have been removed, the lower ends of springs 24 may be forced slightly toward the center of the nozzle in order to disengage the springs from the rivets, whereupon the brush with the springs attached thereto may be removed.

In operation, the motor-fan unit in the vacuum cleaner I draws air into the cleaner through the nozzle I3, handle I2 and conduit II. If the nozzle is passed over a dusty surface this air will pick up dust and carry it into the cleaner III. The dust bag within the cleaner separates the dust from the air and discharges theair in a clean condition. As will'be seen from the drawings, bristles 23 of brush 2I `extend out through elongated opening I5 in the nozzle and are forced against the surface being cleaned by the springs 24. As the nozzle is moved back and forth over this surface supported by the rollers 26, the brush dislodges dirt from the surface which dirt is picked up by the air stream. Normally, the springs hold the brush in the center of the suction opening but, due to the resilient nature of the brush mounting, the brush may move about within the opening in any direction. As the nozzle is moved forward in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8, the brush will be moved transversely of the elongated suction opening to the rear or trailing edge of the opening and when the nozzle is moved backward in the direction by the arrow in Fig. 9, the brush will bear against the front edge of the opening, which, due to reversal of the direction of movement of the nozzle, is now the trailing edge. It will thus be seen that the brush is at all times to one side of the main path of the air flow into the nozzle and consequently this air does not have to pass through the brush. This is of advantage because, when the air passes through ythe brush, threads and other particles of dirt are apt to' be caught in the brush, making it necessary to clean the brush frequently. By arranging the brush so that it is always to one side of the main current of air, I have found that the amount of dirt collected by the brush is greatly reduced.

In the event that the nozzle is passed over a projection or the like, springs 24 permit the brush to move out of the way of the projection.

In the event that it is desired to use the nozzle without the brush or rollers, these members may be readily removed without the use of any tools whatsoever in the manner hereinbefore described.

While I have described one more or less specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for the purposes of illustration only and that further modifications fall within its scope which is to be determined by the appended claims viewed in the light ofthe prior art.

What I claim is:

l. A suction mouthpiece for a vacuum cleaner including walls forming a suction opening., a brush. and resilient means for securing said brush inksaid mouthpiece so that it is normally held in the center of said opening and is movable both towards and away from said opening and back and forth between said walls, said back and forth movement being sumcient to carry said brush beyond either side of the center line between said walls.`

2. A suction mouthpiece for a vacuum cleaner including walls forming a. suction opening, a brush, and resilient means for securing said brush in said mouthpiece so that the brush is movable both towards andaway from said opening and back and iorth between said walls, said back and yforth movement being sufficient to carry said brush beyond either side of the center line between said walls.

3. A suction mouthpiece for a vacuum cleaner including walls forming a suction opening, a brush, and apair of flat springs for securing said brush Yin said mouthpiece so that the brush is movable both towards and away from said opening and back and forth between said walls.

4. A suction mouthpiece for a vacuum cleaner including walls forming an elongated suction opening, a. brush, al pair of flat springs secured to said brush, and projections on the inner side of said walls, said springs being formed with openings adapted to engage said projections to removably support said springs in said mouthpiece, said springs supporting said brush so that it is movable both towards and away from said opening and transverse to the lengthwise extent thereof.

5. A suction mouthpiece for a Vacuum cleaner including walls forming va suction opening, av

for locking said springs in engagement with said Walls.

6. A suction mouthpiece for a vacuum cleaner including walls forming a suction opening, a brush, a pair of flat springs secured to said brush and removablyengaging the walls of said mouthpiece, clamp members secured to said walls, brackets adapted to be removably secured by said clamp members, said brackets serving to lock said springs in engagement with said walls, and rollers rotatably mounted on said brackets.

7. A suction mouthpiece for a vacuum cleaner including walls forming a suction opening, a brush, a pair of at springs secured to said brush, and projections on the inner side of said walls, said springs being formed with openings adapted ,to engage said projections to removably support said springs in said mouthpiece, clamp members secured to said walls, brackets adapted to be removably secured by said members, said brackets serving to lockA said springs in engagement with said projections, and rollers rotatably mounted on said brackets.

LARS ELL. 

